The UBEC School Improvement Programme will soon enter a crucial phase as the Universal Basic Education Commission prepares to verify 518 schools across Nigeria. The exercise comes ahead of the release of N5.18 billion earmarked for projects under the 2025 School-Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme.
The verification process will begin at the end of June and continue into early July. It aims to confirm the existence of nominated schools and identify their infrastructure needs.
Earlier in April, UBEC announced the allocation of N5.18bn to 518 schools spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Verification Exercise Aims to Ensure Accountability
Speaking during a three-day training and retraining programme in Lagos, the Head of Community Empowerment and Development in UBEC’s Social Mobilisation Department, Mrs Patricia Oche, explained the reason behind the exercise.
The training involved state and non-state actors from the 17 Southern states. UBEC organised the programme in partnership with UNICEF.
According to Oche, transparency remains a top priority. Therefore, officials will physically inspect schools before approving intervention funds.
She said states initially submitted 18 schools each. However, only 14 schools from every state and the Federal Capital Territory will qualify under the commission’s guidelines.
Oche said, “We are about to start the 2025 intervention. It is a bit late, but we are going to begin verification at the end of this month towards early July.”
She added, “The SBMCs select the schools they feel are in dire need and send them to us. We then verify these schools because some people might be dubious.”
According to her, some individuals may submit names of schools that do not exist.
“People may submit names of schools that do not exist, so we have to monitor and physically inspect them to confirm that the schools exist and that the deficiencies reported are actually there. After the verification, we will select the final 14 schools per state according to our UBEC guidelines and release the funds,” she said.
Beneficiaries Will Receive Funds in Two Phases
Oche disclosed that communities will receive the intervention money in two instalments.
UBEC plans to release 75 per cent of the funds initially. The remaining 25 per cent will follow after monitoring and evaluation.
She explained that the approach will help reduce cases of misuse.
“We give them 75 per cent first and the remaining 25 per cent after monitoring because some of them misuse the money,” she stated.
In addition, UBEC reduced the number of beneficiary schools from 32 to 14 per state.
According to Oche, the commission wants to focus on quality rather than quantity.
She said, “We want quality, not quantity. The Executive Secretary decided that we should reduce the number of schools and increase the funding so that beneficiaries can execute meaningful projects.”
Communities Will Decide Priority Projects
The UBEC School Improvement Programme allows host communities to identify their most pressing needs.
As a result, School-Based Management Committees will recommend projects that improve learning conditions.
These projects may include classrooms, toilets, furniture, roads and bridges.
Oche explained that any project capable of improving access to schools would receive consideration.
“Anything that will make schools more accessible to learners can be considered,” she said.
Furthermore, UBEC introduced three revised operational documents to strengthen implementation.
They include the SBMC Operational Manual, the Monitoring and Mentoring Pack and the School Improvement Plan Implementation Manual.
According to Oche, the manuals provide guidance for training, monitoring and project execution.
She noted that new beneficiaries require adequate knowledge to deliver successful projects.
Revised Guidelines Address Emerging Challenges
Earlier, UBEC Executive Secretary Dr Aisha Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr Rasaq Akinyemi, urged participants to implement the revised guidelines effectively.
Garba stressed the importance of School-Based Management Committees in improving accountability and learning outcomes.
Meanwhile, resource person Dr Hafsat Yakasai of Bayero University, Kano, explained that the revised manuals address emerging threats.
She noted that insecurity and climate-related challenges influenced the review process.
According to her, the updated manuals simplify procedures and strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
“There are new dimensions of challenges affecting education beyond funding. Communities need to be equipped with strategies to mitigate these challenges, while creating awareness and mobilising local participation,” she said.
Also speaking, National Chairman of the School-Based Management Committees, Abdullahi Umar, highlighted the role of communities in protecting schools.
He said local residents must remain vigilant because insecurity continues to threaten educational facilities.
“The communities will use their eyes and ears to monitor their environment, identify potential threats and prepare for the worst,” he said.
Other participants at the event included UNICEF Education Specialist Nneka Ogbansiegbe, Damian-Mary Adeleke of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, Dean of the Directorate of Social Mobilisation Joy Otoworo and UBEC’s Head of Public and Private Engagement and Partnership, Abdulmumuni Abdulsalam.
The UBEC School Improvement Programme marks another effort to strengthen basic education across Nigeria. By verifying schools before releasing funds, the commission hopes to promote accountability and ensure that communities receive meaningful projects.
With N5.18 billion set aside for intervention, stakeholders expect the initiative to improve infrastructure and expand access to quality education nationwide.
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